News and Notes from the Icebreaker, Road Race Style Qualifying Day
– John Raudat set the fast time in Group 1 qualifying, posting a 1:23.685. Raudat had not seen the 1.7 mile Road Course at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park before today’s event.
– Raudat, driving a 1999 Mazda Miata time gave him is his first Pole Award in his career.
– Raudat, from Madison, CT, is followed by youngster Matthew Chimbolo, who posted a 1:24.142. Xiang Li qualified third with time of 1:25.096.
– Matthew Chimbolo is a budding, young star, according to John Raudat. “He’s a real smooth driver. He improved greatly throughout the day.”
– Ken Payson, in his 1999 Mazda Miata, led Group 2 qualifying, posting a 1:22.477 circuit, besting his personal track record.
– Payson gained a full 2 seconds, from first practice to Qualifying.
– Payson, on his personal best lap, “The track was pretty cold, so we bumped up all the air pressures a pound or two. We also ran two laps, after that the tires get too hot.”
– Rounding out the top 3 in qualifying, Payson, followed by Rob Sturgis, posting a time of 1:23.271, and John Raudat with a 1:23.443.
– Jeff Swann set an OTB Promotions record in Group 3, recording a time of 1:20.626.
– “Let’s be clear, two reasons why you go fast: a great car, and a great pit crew,” expressed Swann. “The Gen-3 is a phenomenal thing. It was my first time out (in the car), and I’m very impressed. It’s a lot of fun, and a lot of power.”
– The top 3 qualifiers in Group 3 were Swann, George Kline, who recorded a 1:28.450, and Morgan Duffy, with a time of 1:29.139.
– Kline suffered a mechanical failure with his primary car, experiencing a broken clutch, subsequently ending his day with that vehicle. Walter Ryan, a participant in Group 1, has loaned Kline his ride, and will share the automobile in each of their respective groups. “We just want to go out and have a good time. It’s a great day, because we are at the track.”
The Icebreaker, Road Race Style is set to continue on Saturday, April 25, with Driver’s Meeting scheduled for 8AM. For more information on Outside the Box Promotions, visit www.otbpromos.net, on Facebook (OTB Promotions), Twitter @OTBPromos, or on Instagram at OTB_Promotions.
Sources: Shawn Sicard/OTB Promotions, Inc.